Bow hairing tool



April 8, 1952 B. A. Vwr-n'rEMAN BOW HAIRING TOOL Filed Deo. l5, 1950 Patented Apr. 8, 1952 UNITED-STATES PATENT oFF'icE- BOW HAIRING TOOL Benton A. Whiteman, Glen Allen, Va. A

Application lDecember 15, 1950, Serial No. 200,915

This invention appertains to improvements in tools for hairing the bows for stringed instruments, such as violin, cello, bass violin, etc.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a tool, which functions as a vise or clamp for holding the hairs properly in place as the ends are being wrapped and fastened together, which serves as a comb to separate the hairs into parallel strands, which also acts as a measuring gauge to indicate the proper place to cut the hairs, so that the hairs will be of a correct and uniform length, when the bow is assembled.

Another object of this invention is to provide a small and compact tool, which is efficiently and easily mounted on a table or manually handled.

These and ancillary objects and structural features of merit are attained by this invention, the

preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing. wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the tool;

i Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure l;

spaced apart. The adjoining ends I6 and I8 of the supporting members are formed with transversely disposed and aligned openings 20 and 22 for the reception of a clamping pin or shaft 24. The pin is slidably disposed through the openings and is formed at one end with an enlarged head 26 and, at the opposing end, with a coaxally reduced section 28, which terminates in an enlargement 30 forming a locking shoulder 32, at its inner end.

The pin is withdrawn from the opening 22 and the groove and shoulder function to prevent complete withdrawal of the pin from the opening 20 in the supporting member I2. Thus, locking means 34 is operatively mounted in the end 16 of the supporting member I2 for engagement in the reduced portion 28 and for abutting relation with the shoulder 32. The locking means 34 includes a spring loaded plunger or pin 36, which is slidably disposed in an axial opening 38, formed in the end I6 of the supporting member. A spring 40 is interposed between the inner end of theY opening and the inner end of the plunger for urging the plunger forwardly of .the opening. An insert 42` is fitted in the outerend of the opening to close Voff the opening. Thus,

7 Claims. (01; 84-453) vtion of deleterious wear on the. plate 44.

2 l .l as the shaft or clamping pin 24 is withdrawn from the opening 22 and the shaft is moved through the opening 28, the plunger or locking pin 36 will be urged by the lspring 48 into" engagement in the reduced portion 28 and in abutting relation with the shoulder 32 to prevent complete withdrawal of the locking pin or shaft from the opening 20.

A clamping plate 44 is slidably mounted on the supporting members I2 and I 4 for clamping cooperation with the clamping pin 24. The plate is transversely disposed between the supporting members and is formed with parallel sleeves 46 and 48, the sleeves projecting laterally from the opposing ends of the plate and being slidably disposed on the supporting members I2 and-I4. Coil springs 50 and 52 are concentrically disposed on the supporting members, the springs bearing at one end against the outer endsfof the sleeves 46 and 48 and engaging, at their opposite ends, on the opposing ends of a supporting and tension adjusting plate 54. The platev 54 is provided with openings for the receptionof the supporting members and is transversely disposed between the supporting members. l Means is provided for advancing the plate 54 on the supporting membersv to compress the springs 50 and 52, the means including a block 56, which is fixed by pins 58 to the supporting members. A threaded opening Suis formed` in the center portion of the block and is disposed parallel with the supporting members, the opening receiving a screw shaft 62. A knurled wheel 64 is iixedly circumposed on the screw shaft and is spaced from the plate 54 by a washer 66,. A bearing end 68 is formed on the screw shaft and is rotatably disposed in an opening 10 formed in the plate 54 Means is provided for locking the plate. 44 in a position spaced from the pin 24 and against the urgement of the springs 50 and 52. The locking means includes a resilient wire 12, which is fixed at its end 14 to the sleeve 46 and which is coiled, as at 16, around the sleeve 48. The wire is formed with a substantially straight free end 18, which terminates in an enlargement 80. A locking notch 82 is formed in the supporting member I2 at the end I6 and is substantially V-shaped in cross section, the notch having a fiat wall for lockingly lengaging. the endsection 18 of the locking wire 12. Y A spacer 84, formed of felt or similar material, is superimposed on the top surface of the plate 44 and is substantially elliptical in shape torconform to the shape of the plate 44, the spacer being slidably disposed on the supporting mem-bers I2 and I4 and functioning to prevent the imposithe upper surfaceof `A rectangular'lange 86 extends laterallyfrom one side edge of the plate 44 and is disposed coplanar therewith. The ange is preferably formed integrally with the plate and projects outwardly from between the supporting members A'I2 and I4. The ange 85 is formed at its opposing side edges with slots 88 and 90, the slots being disposed in alignment and being spaced from the outer edge 92 of the flange. 'I'he edge 92 serves as a measuring edge, as will be moreclearly explained.

In hairing a bow, the initial operation involves the gathering together of a plurality of hairs or strands of nylon or similar material. The hairs are grouped together in side by side hunched relation and one end oi the group is tied and shell'acked.

In using they tool I9, the plate 44 is mcvedon the supporting members I2 and I4 from the ends IB and I8 thereof or out of the cooperative position with the pin 24. The sleeves 46 and 48 are moved on the supporting members, relative to the opposing ends 94 and 96 of the supporting members. The group of hair or nylon strands 98 are inserted through the supporting members and introduced between the ends I 6 and I8 thereof, the pin 24 having been moved to its open position, with the plunger 36 engaging the shoulder 32 of theend 30 and preventing withdrawal of the pin from the supporting member I2. The strands are, thus, placed on top of the spacer 84 and rest on the flange 86. After the strands are placed in this position, the pin 24 is closed, with the end 3D moving through the opening 22 in the supporting member I4. The locking end 'I8 of the wirev 'I2 is released from the notch 82 and the plate 44 and spacer 84 are moved upwardly to clamp the strands against the pin 24, the springs 50 and 52 functioning to urge the plate 44 into Such position.

When the plate 44 moves relative to its released. position, the strands 98 are engaged between the spacer S4 and the pin 24 and are spread apart to uniformlyl fill the space on the spacer 84, between the ends Iiil and I 8 of the supporting members, as illustrated in Figure 2. A tying thread or wire is inserted in the slots 8'8 and 90 and wrapped around the strands to pull the. strands together into a uniform round cross section, outwardly from the edge 92 of the flange.

The ends of the strands, protruding past the edge 92 of the flange, are then permanently aflixed together with thread or wire and shellacked, in the usual manner.

The clamping pin is then moved to an open position after the sliding clamping plate 44 is moved to a locked position, byV exerting pressure on the ilange 86, the sleeves moving on the supporting members I2 and I4, against the urgement of the springs. The plate 44 is moved on the supporting members, until the locking section 'I8 engages in the notch 82 and locks the plate in a lowered position.

The strands are then removed from the tool and the shellacked end of the strands is fastened in the frog of a bow in the usual manner, except that the hair spreading wedge is not inserted, until the strands are combed.

The tool is used to comb the strands, the tool being removed from the table and the free ends ofthe strands being grasped in the left hand.

The pin 24, being in an open position, the tool, in" an inverted position, is placed on the strands, untilV the spacer 84 engages' transversely on the strands. The pin is then moved to a closed position and the locking means for the plate 44 is released, thel plate being urged into clamping engagement of the strands. The hair is then spread, as described before.

The tool is moved towards the tip end of the bow, the frog end of the bow being held in a padded vise during thisk operation. The tool is held so that the edge 92 is toward the tip end of the bow. The tool is then moved, until the strands lay parallel. This may require several movements of the tool over the strands, the plate being locked in an up position for forward movement and being in clamping engagement of the strands for a rearward or combing movement.

The tool is then positioned as close as possible to the frog ferrule and the. plate 44 holds the strands, the strands being clamped between. the pin and the spacer 84. The tool is tilted back over the bow frog, until the ends 94 and 96 vare perpendicular. In this position, a hair spreading wedge may conveniently be inserted in the bow frog.

The tool is then employed, as stated above, to fine comb' the strands, until the strands lay parallel, thetool being moved along the full length of the strands. If preferred or desired, the strands can be rough combed with an ordinary coarse toothed comb, then inished with the tool.

After the strands are separated and lay parallel, the tool is employed to measure the strands to the proper length for attachment to the bow. In such use, the tool is placed or positioned close to the frog end of the bow, so that the supporting members I2 and I4 stra-ddle the bow shaft. The strands are clamped between the spacer 84 and the pin 24, the tool being moved along the strands. until the edge 92 approaches a point on the strands, which coincides with the furtherest edge of the bow tip socket. When this point is reached, the screw shaft 62 is rotated and the plate 54 further compresses the springs. The further compression of the springs moves the plate 44 into tight clamping cooperation with the pin 24. This exerts considerable pressure on the strands and holds the stra-nds rigidly in place.

The tool is then placed on av table, as initially described, and the strands again temporarily wrapped by means of a piece of wire or thread, which is disposed in the slots 89 and S0 and encircles the strands to bring the strands together into a uni-form round cross section. The strands are then cut, so that a portion of their ends protrudes beyond the edge 92 of the flange. The protruding ends are brought together and wrapped and, after wrapping, are stick shellacked together.

When the tool is employed as a measuring gauge, as aforedescribed, the. bow frog should be in its releasedposition or at a point close to the bow tip.

The object of the measuring edge 92 is to provide a positive means of obtaining the correct length to cut the strands so that they will be the Vcorrect overall length for the bow when it is assembled. The correct overall length should be such that, when the bow frog is in the released position, the bow hairs should be slack and there should be no strain on. the bow, but they'should also be short enough so that when the frog'adjusting screw is rotated a few turns, this slack should be taken up and the bow hairs stretched to playing position.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A device for hairing the bow for a stringed instrument comprising parallel supporting members, a pin slidably disposed transversely through the supporting members, a clamping plate slidably disposed on the supporting members for movement on the supporting members relative to the pin, said plate being transversely disposed between the member and paralleling the pin, means for urging said plate into clamping relation with the pin for loosely clamping a group of strands therebetween and spreading said strands into parallel positions, and means for releasably locking the plate on the supporting members in a position spaced from the pin.

2. A device for hairing the bow for a stringed instrument comprising parallel supporting members, a pin slidably disposed transversely through the supporting members, a clamping plate slidably disposed on the supporting members for movement on the supporting members relative to the pin, said plate being transversely disposed between the member and paralleling the pin, means for urging said plate into clamping relation with the pin for loosely clamping a group of strands therebetween and spreading said strands into parallel positions, means for releasably locking the plate on the supporting members in a position spaced from the pin, and means on said plate and extending laterally thereof for supporting the strands, said means including a iiange having aligned lateral slots for receiving a ilexible member adapted to encircle and tie the strands together.

3. A device for hairing the bow for a stringed instrument comprising parallel supporting members, a pin slidably disposed transversely through the supporting members, means carried by one of said members for preventing complete withdrawal of the pin therefrom, a clamping plate slidably disposed on the supporting members for movement thereon relative to the pin, said plate being positioned transversely between the supporting members and disposed parallel to the pin, spring means urging said plate into loose clamping relation with the pin when the pin is in a closed position transverse of the supporting members, said plate and pin in such relation engaging a group of strands and spreading the strands into parallel positions, means for compressing the spring means to force the plate into tight clamping engagement of the strands, and means for releasably locking the plate on the supporting members in a position spaced from the pll'l.

4. A device for hairing the bow for a stringed instrument comprising parallel supporting members, a pin slidably disposed transversely through the supporting members, means carried by one of said members for preventing complete withdrawal of the pin therefrom, a clamping plate slidably disposed on the supporting members for movement thereon relative to the pin, said plate being positioned transversely between the supporting members and disposed parallel to the pin, spring means urging said plate into loose clamping relation with the pin when the pin is in a closed position transverse of the supporting members, said plate and pin in such relation engaging a group of strands and spreading the strands into parallel positions, means for compressing the spring means to force the plate into tight clamping engagement of the strands, and means for releasably locking the plate on the supporting members in a position spaced from the pin, said last means including a resilient locking element carried by the plate and means formed on one of the supporting members for locking engagement of the locking element.

5. A device for hairing the bow for a stringed instrument comprising parallel supporting members, a pin slidably disposed transversely through the supporting members, means carried by one of said members for preventing complete withdrawal of the pin therefrom, a clamping plate slidably disposed on the supporting members for movement thereon relative to the pin, said plate being positioned transversely between the supporting members and disposed parallel to the pin, spring means urging said plate into loose clamping relation with the pin when the pin is in a closed position transverse of the supporting members, said plate and pin in such relation engaging a group of strands and spreading the strands into parallel positions, means for compressing the spring means to force the plate into tight clamping engagement of the strands. means for releasably locking the plate on the supporting members in a position spaced from the pin, said last means including a pair of guide sleeves formed on the plate at right angles thereto and slidably mounted on the supporting members, a resilient wire carried by the sleeves, one of said sleeves having a transverse opening therein, and the supporting member for said sleeve having a notch formed therein, said wire having a free end adapted to be biased into engagement of the notch.

6. A device for hairing the bow for a stringed instrument comprising parallel supporting members, a pin slidably disposed transversely through the supporting members, means carried by one of said members for preventing complete withdrawal of the pin therefrom, a clamping plate slidably disposed on the supporting members for movement thereon relative to the pin, said plate being positioned transversely between the supporting members and disposed parallel to the pin, spring means urging said plate into loose clamping relation with the pin when the pin is in a closed position transverse of the supporting members, said plate and pin in such relation engaging a group of strands and spreading the strands into parallel positions, means for compressing the spring means to force the plate into tight clamping engagement of the strands, means for releasably locking the plate on the supporting members in a position spaced from the pin, said spring means including springs coiled on the Supporting members, and said compressing means including a screw operated plate slidably mounted on the supporting members and engaging said springs.

'7. A device for handling the strands for a bow for stringed instruments comprising parallel supporting members, a pin disposed transversely through the supporting members, means for axially moving said pin in the supporting members to move said pin out of engagement with one of the supporting members, means for locking the pin against withdrawal from the other of the supporting members, a plate cooperative with the pin for clampingly engaging a plurality of strands, said plate being disposed transversely between the supporting members and slidably mounted thereon for movement relative to the pin, means for urging the plate relative to the pin, and means for locking the plate on the supporting members in a position spaced from the pin.

BENTON A. WHITEMAN.

No references cited; 

